An article from The Surrey Advertiser, 4th August 2006, about this unique building that is in Thursley Churchyard. Thursley Dame School was replaced by the Thursley School in 1852.
Large scale plans are in the archive
From The Surrey Advertiser:
A LANDMARK building in Thursley has been restored as part of a major project to improve the facilities at the parish church. The village has one of the few surviving dame schools in the area.
Dating from the turn of the 19th-century, it was built in the churchyard of St Michael & All Angels. The small oak-framed building with a fireplace and leaded windows was in very dilapidated but has taken on a new lease of life, thanks to a £120,000 church improvement scheme.
“It was a ruin,” said villager John Walshe, who led the project. “The dame school was put up for the children of the Thursley. They paid a penny a week and an extra penny to be taught manners.
“We had advice from Jo Thompson, an expert carpenter from the Weald and Downland Museum, and an expert surveyor, Bill Percy. The builders, Crozon, have also done us proud.”
Original features, such as the windows, hearth and part of the lath and plaster have been preserved. Mr Walshe hopes to include an information board tracing the building’s history.
“We’ve been able to put it to good use, and we will use it as a vital storeroom for the church,” he said.
The Dame School today, 30th April 2024
A Dame school was a private elementary school in English-speaking countries. The children were usually taught by women. The schools were most common from the 17th century to the 19th century. Most of these schools were in Britain, the United States, and Australia. The Statistical Society of London found almost half of all children in Dame schools surveyed were only taught spelling. Few were taught mathematics and grammar. Dame schools became less common in Britain after the introduction of compulsory education in 1870.
The Dame School prior to restoration
These photographs show the beautiful leaded light windows, some with stained glass. It was too expensive to restore them but they still remain behind the new oak cladding
The Restoration Project:
A Report on the Structural Timbers and Joinery of the Dame School at St Michael and All Angels Church, Thursley, Godalming, Surrey for Thursley Parochial Church Council by Joseph Thompson, Dip Surv, Sussex Oak and Iron, The Downland Gridshell, Weald and Downland Open Air museum, Singleton, West Sussex, PO18 0EU, February 2005